A federation is a political system where multiple states or regions come together to form a single entity while maintaining their individual governments. This allows each member to have some degree of autonomy, making decisions on local matters, while still being part of a larger national framework. Examples of federations include countries like the United States and Germany, where both the national and state governments share power. In a federation, the central government typically handles issues that affect the entire country, such as defense and foreign policy, while local governments manage education and transportation. This balance helps to ensure that diverse needs are met, allowing for cooperation and unity among the different regions.